Wire-nail-making attachment



(No Model.) 5 Sheefis-$heet l.

G. W. MOKIM. WIRE NAIL TVIAKING ATTACHMENT. No. 447,895. I Patented Mar.10, 1891.

5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

G. W. MoKIM. WIRE NAIL MAKING ATTACHMENT.

No. 447,895. Patented Mar. 10,1891.

5 Sheets Sheet 3.

(No Model.

G. W. MQKIM. WIRE NAIL MAKING ATTACHMENT.

Patented Mar. 10,1891.

5 SheetsSh'eet 4.

(N?) Model.)

G. W. MoKIM. WIRE NAIL MAKING ATTAGHMENT..

Patented Mar. 10, 18.91.

lliil %& mac/042a (No Model.) I -5 Sheets'Sheet 5.

G. W. MOKIM. WIRE NAIL MAKING ATTACHMENT.

No. 447,895. Patented Mar. 10,1891.

v n. k l 1 mm lllllllllllllll Tm TI -ml;

T Q Ila TTTMHM Z 1 @L Jam I Swvawcoz v q/vitwzowo UNiTEn STATES ATENTOrrrcn.

GEORGE WV. MUKIM, OF MARTINS FERRY, OHIO.

WlRE-NAlL-MAKING ATTACHMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 447,895, dated March10, 1891.

Application filed September 23, 1890. Serial No. 365,897. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE WV. MCKIM,

residing at Martins Ferry, in the county of Belmont and State of Ohio,haveinvented certain new and useful WVire-Nail-Making Attachments forOut-Nail Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has for its object to provide suitably-constructed deviceswhich will be in the nature of attachments which can be readily securedto the ordinary cut-nail machines without the necessity of changingtheir present construction, and which will serve to convert. suchmachines into wire-nail-makin g machines.

It is well known to those skilled in the art of nail-making that whilethe wire nail presents many advantages over the cut nail,and while thegeneral demand for wire nails is steadily on the increase, the cost ofputting up wire-nail-making machines is so great that manynail-manufacturers will not use them. Another reason why manufacturerswill not adopt them is that it is almost impossible, owing to theregular demand for out nails and to the amount of capital invested,todis pense with their regular machines.

To provide means whereby the same machines which are used for themanufacture of out nails can be quickly converted or madeinterchangeable into wire-nail-making machines, or from wire-nail tocut-nail machines, without impairing the utility of the machines foreither purpose, is the object of my invention.

To this end my invention consists in providing detachable devices soconstructed, arranged, and combined in such a manner that they can bequickly attached to or detached from the cut-nail machines, so as tocause same to operate to head, cut, and point a con tinuous thread ofwrought wire into suitable nail lengths.

It further consists in providing means which can be 'set to cut nails ofdifferent lengths, and which will also positively cause each nail as cutto be forced down into a suitable box or receptacle.

Finally, my invention consists in the sundry novel arrangement andpeculiar combina tion of parts, all of which will hereinafter be fullydescribed in the annexed specification and particularly pointed out inthe claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 represents a perspective view of an ordinary cut-nail machine,stripped and ready to receive my improved wire-nail-making attachments.Fig. 2 is a perspective view tachments applied, showing the machineadapted for use as a wire-nail-making machine. Fig. 3 is a top plan Viewof the machine with myimproved attachments applied.

'of a cut-nail machine with my improved at- 6;)

Fig.4. is a longitudinal section of the same on the line t 4, Fig. 3.Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the movable die, the mandrel, andsupport for holding same. Fig. 6is a detail View of the combined pusherand guiding-finger hereinafter referred to. 7 is a vertical longitudinalsection of the machine, taken on the line 7 7, Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is atransverse of the same on the line 8 8, Fig. 3. Fig. 9 is a detailsection on the line 9 9, same figure. combined cutting and pointingdies, and Fig. ll is a detail view of the guide E.

Inthe practical application of my improved attachments for the ordinarycut-nail ma- Fig. 7c

Fig. 10 is a detail view of the chine I first remove from said machinethe So bed-knife, moving knife, and the nipping devices and leave thegripping and heading devices in their normal position, with theexception that I remove the gripping-lever and insert a bentgripping-lever in its place for 8 the purpose hereinafter explained.

' As the manner in which the gripping devices and the header areoperated is the one common to all well-known cut-nail machines,

the means for operating the same need not 0 be specifically referred to.

For the purpose of clearness I will first describe the means forcutting, pointing, heading, and discharging the nail, set forth theoperation thereof, andthen describe the wirefeed mechanism and itsoperation.

By referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings thearrangement of the cutters, header, and grippers Will be most clearlyunderstood and from which it will be being securely held in socket B bymeans of the adjusting-screws a a, as shown. As before stated, thegripper-lever is removed and a bent lever is inserted in place thereof,the object of which is to permit of placing the movable cutting andpointing die in line with the fixed knife or die. In the constructionshown I arrange the movable cutter or die F for a horizontal thrustmovement, and I further arrange said die whereby the same can be readilyadjusted laterally or vertically in relation to feed of the wire. Tothis end I employ the devices most clearly shown in Figs. 4c and 5 ofthe drawings, by reference to which it will be seen that a bed-plate Gis provided, which is secured upon the crosspieces a a of the frame Afor lateral adjustment, preferably by passing the holdingscrews 9 9through elongated slots g in said bed-plate, and to form a solid bearingagainst back-pressure on said plate when the die F is thrustforward in amanner presently explained. I provide said plate G with a shoulder G,which bears against the rear cross-piece a of the frame A, as shown inFig. 3. Upon plate G, I secure for lateral adjustment thereon, as shown,an angle-plate H, to which is secured the bearing-box I for thedie-carrying mandrel J, said bearing or support being verticallyadjustable on the angle-plate II by means of the screws 7L and theelongated slot 72. in the plate H.

By reference to the drawings it will be seen that I make a long bearingfor the die-mandrel J, and to avoid unnecessary friction I form saidbearing V shape in cross-section and provide a similar-shaped cap-plateI, between which the Q-shaped mandrel J slides. The forward end of themandrel J is formed with a pocket-like portionj, in which is seated thepointing and cutting die F and the spacing-blockf, said die and blockbeing securely held in said pocket by means of a suitable clip f. Atthis point I deem it proper to state that by means of the aforesaidmanner of securing the die F the die can be adjusted by means of theblock or blocksfto or from the heading devices, whereby it, inconnection with the fixed knife or die 0 and the spacing-blocks 0 may bereadily adjusted to cut longer or shorter or different-sized nails, asmaybe desired. The rear end of the mandrel J is provided with anabutting head J with which the pushing-lever L engages, said head beingmade adjustable, so the forward thrust of the mandrel can be readilygaged. The leverL has aplvotal connection between the ears 9 g of thebed-plate G, the upper arm or extension being arranged to engage a camor eccentric M, secured upon the driveshaft 0 of the usual fly and bandwheel, as shown. Upon the lower inner face of the lever L is secured awear-plate Z, against which the adjustable abutment J of the mandrel Jbears, said wear-plate being adjustably secured to lever L, so it canalways be set for engagement with said abutting end of the mandrel whenthe mandrel-support is adjusted vertically to suit the bed-frame ofdifferent cut-nail machines.

By means of the aforesaid construction it will be seen that as thepower-shaft is revolved the cam or eccentric M will force the lever Lforward, which in its movement will impart a thrust motion to themandrel and cause it to move the die F up against the fixed die 0 at theproper time. Now to bring the mandrel slowly back to its normalposition, I provide a spring P, which is secured at one end to the bedof machine and at its opposite end to the upper end of the lever L,serving to always hold it in contact with the cam M and draw the samebackward, a link or rod m being secured to the wear-plate Z at one endand at its opposite end to the mandrel, as shown, said rod serving toalways hold the abutting end of the mandrel with the lever L, thusassuring a steady thrust and retractile movement of the die F, andtherebyavoiding any unnecessary jars, which might knock the severalparts out of their true positions.

The gripping-dies, which are of the ordinary construction, are arrangedjust in advance of the header, and just in advance of the fixedgripper-die is arranged the wireguide or supporting-finger E, which ismost carefully shown in Figs. 3 and 11 of the drawings, by reference towhich it will be seen that the same is formed with a hooked member 6,projecting downward, forming a seat 6 which is in line with the meetingfaces of the grippers when they are closed in, said finger E serving toguide the end of the wire inatrue line between the grippers.

Heretofore great trouble has been experienced in getting the free end ofthe wire to feed through between the grippers. To pro,- vide meanswhereby the wire will always be fed through between the grippers, eventhough the free end thereof may have been bent downward during thepreceding operation of cutting and pointing, I construct thepusherfinger O, which is generally used in the ordinary cut-nailmachine, with an elastic end and form said end with a projecting nose 0,which projects over the path of the moving wire, and serves, when forceddown in the manner hereinafter described, to force the cutwire nail downinto a suitable trough or box.

The relation of the finger O and the movement of the wire is such thatafter the nail has been cut'and pushed down by the downward movement ofthe said finger the wire will be fed forward over the nose-piece 0before it rises up, and as it rises the nose-piece will engage the underface of the wire and lift it into the guide-finger E in line with thegrippers, the several parts being so adjusted relatively that when thenose-piece has lifted the wire into place the gripper will take hold ofthe same.

Thus farI have described the cutting, p0inting, heading, and grippingdevices, all of which will be clearly understood in connection with theaforesaid description by reference to the drawings.

The operation of the machine so far as described is as follows: Assumingthe wire-feeding device to be in condition for operation and the end ofthe wire having been adjusted against the header and between thegrippers, the relative position of parts is such that the grippers firstgrip the wire. The header then immediately after operates to upset theend of the wire and makes the head. The grippers then begin to recede,but ere they 4 release the wire entirely the operating-die F nails Ihave found that it is absolutely essential, for producing a perfectuninterupted op eration of the cutting devices, that the feed of thewire must be steady, and the end of the wire must always be fed true orelse serious results are encountered, such as bending up the wire intocoils, thereby clogging the ma chine and frequently breaking some of theparts. I have also found that it is necessary that the wire should beallowed to have free movement laterally to the direction of the feed atits cut end, so that when the movable die comes in contact with thefixed die thp wire as it is slightly bent in the direction of the thrustof the die F can, when the said die recedes, be quickly brought backinto true time for a proper feed. Furthermore, as the condition of thebed of the different cut-nail machines varies slightly, it is absolutelynecessary that the feed attachments be made both vertically andlaterallyadjustable to the bed of such machines. To this end I arrange the bed Pof the feed devices, which are most clearlyshown in Figs. 2 and 3 of thedrawings, for vertical adjustment on an angle-plate Q, laterallyadjustable on the bed of the machine, (see Fig. 3,) the vertical wall ofsaid plate being formed with a steadying-rib g, which enters a groove ron the downwardlyextendingbracketpof the tram e, said bracket beingformed with elongated slots 19 p, which ride on the screws 13 p,'screwed to the wall q, as shown, thus producing the lateral verticaladjustment-of the feeding devices, as stated. At the outer end of theframe are mounted the wire-straightening rollers S, A

through which is passed the wire from the spool, (not shown,) saidstraightening-rollers bein got the usual construction and formed into afixed set S and adjustable set S as shown. In advance of the saidrollers I arrange the feed-carriage T, which slides reciprocally in theguide t t, secured to the base P, said carriage being formed with theusual wire-guiding groove 23 and the spring-actuated clamp-' can be ing-finger T which serves to hold the wire and carry it forward when thecarriage is moved forward, but slips over the same on the reversemovement of the carriage.

Heretofore when the carriage has been provided with the guide groove 25only great trouble has been had to keep the wire straight, it sometimes,as it leaves the rollers,being of such a condition as to bend up whenthe carriage was reciprocated. To avoid this trouble I provideadditional guides t on the top of the carriage, over the grooved ends ofthe carriage, as shown, through which the wire passes, said guidesserving to hold the wire down in the groove 19, and thereby giving thesame a long solid bearing on the carriage.

U indicates abell-crank lever pivotally supported upon a vertical rod u,the lower arm U of which is linked with'the carriage, as shown. Theupper arm U is connected with the driveshaft of the machine, from therotary motion of which an oscillating motion is transmitted to thecarriage, and-to provide means whereby the carriage can be adjusted soas to feed a greater or less amount of wire forward, and also to provideagainst accidental breakage of the carriage-operating parts in case thewire should become clogged or bent in its guides, I employ devices mostclearly shown in Figs. 3 and 9 of the drawings, by reference to which itwill be seen that upon the outer end of the arm U is pivoted abearing-box U in which is held for longitudinal adjustment acoupling-pin V, to which is connected the end w of the rod or pitman W',the rear end of which is provided with the bearingbox W, which fits overthe disk Y, eccentrically mounted on the drive-shaft O to turntherewith. By this construction it will be seen that as the drive-shaftrevolves it will, through its connection with the feed-carriage, serveto reciprocate same with its bearings. It will also be observed that byadjusting the coupling-pin Vinward or outward in its bearing-block U thesweep of the crank-lever U regulated whereby to adjust the amount offeed thrust of the carriage. In adjusting the box U in place I secure itby a single screw U for a tight frictional contact with the arm U whichwill serve to ordinarily hold said box in position and rock thebell-crank lever. Should, however, the Wirefeeding carriage becomeclogged in such a manner it could not travel in its guides, the block Uwould slip and turn on its pivotal screw U thereby eifectuallypreventing anv danger of accidental breakage of the parts.

Z indicates the yielding conductor or mouthpiece, which is pivotallyscrewed to the carriage-bed at Z for horizontal motion thereon, and heldin normal or adjusted positions by meansofaset-screwZ'and springZThefront end of said conductor has transversely and adjustably securedtherein the mouth-piece proper Z which consists of a tube, bell shape atits receiving end, such end being arranged adjacent the end X ofthefeed-carriage frame,

ICC

while its reduced conical end Z comes up close to the cutting andpointing dies. By this construction it will be observed that as the diesclose to out the wire the same will be slightly bent in the direction ofthe thrust of the movable die, and in moving the mouthpiece in suchdirection the cut end of the wire will be drawn slightly away from thecutters, and as the movable die recedes the mouthpiece will come back toits normal position and bring the end of the wire in the true positionfor feed. v 7

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings,the advantages and complete operation of my devices will be readilyunderstood. The same are of such a nature as to be quickly connected ordis connected with the ordinary machines stated, and can be manufacturedat such a small cost that any nail-machine factory can carry them onhand even to manufacture a moderate supply of wire nails as the occasionmay require.

Having thus described my invention, whatI claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, 1s-

I 1. The combinat-ion,with the wire-feed devices, of a fixed horizontaldie having its outting-edges in a vertical plane, a horizontallymovablecutting die arranged to operate against said fixed die, and meansintermediate the power-shaft of the machine and the horizontally-movablecutting-die, whereby it is operated, as and for the purpose described.

2. A wire-nail making attachment for outnail machines, consisting of anautomatic wirefeed, a horizontally-disposed fixed cuttingdie, ahorizontally-movable cutting-die, and a horizontally-disposed andlaterally-movable yielding conductor intermediate the device and thecutting-dies, in combination with the gripper and heading devices, andmeans for operating the feed, the dies, and the gripper and headingdevices, substantially as and for the purpose described.

The combination, with the wire-feeding devices and the heading andgripping devices, of a horizontally-disposed fixed die having itscutting-face in a vertical plane, a horizontally-disposed cutting-diearranged to be moved to operate against the fixed die, said movable diearranged for vertical and lateral adjustment on the main frame, andmeans, substantially as shown, for operating the cutting, heading, andgripping dies and the wirefeed devices, substantially as shown and described.

at. The combination, with the pivotal head of a cut-nail machineprovided with a yielding wire-lifter adapted to raise the wire betweenthe grippers, of the fixed cutting-die,

the longitudinally-movable cu tting-die, the,

ranged substantially as and forthe purpose described.

5. The combination, with pivotal head of a cut-nail machine providedwith a combined yielding wire-lifter and nail-pusher, of the grippingand heading dies and the detachable and adjustable feeding and cuttingdevices, substantially as shown and described.

6; In wire-nail-making attach inentsfor cutnail machines, thecombination, with the drive-shaft, and header and gripper dies of suchmachines, of a fixedly-held horizontal cutting-die, ahorizontally-disposed and longitudinally-movable cutting-die, anddevices intermediate the rear end of said movable die and thedrive-shaftfor reciprocating said movable die, as described.

7. In a machine essentially as described, the wire-lifter formed with aprojecting nosepiece 0 and an upwardly and inwardly inclined face,substantially as and for the purpose described.

8. In wire-nail-making attachments for cutnail machines, thecombination, with the fixed cutting-die and the gripping and headingdies, of a longitudinally-movable cuttingdie, a pivoted spring-actuatedlever connected with the rear end of said movable die, the drive-shaft,and an eccentric cam mounted thereon adapted to engage and operate saidlever, substan tially as and for the purpose described.

9. The yielding conductor pivoted intermediate the wire-feed, and thecutting devices adapted to be swung in the direction of the movement ofthe movable cutter in one direction and back to normal position byspringpressure, as and for the purpose described.

-10. In a wire-nail-making machine, the combination, with thestraightening-rolls, of a reciprocating wire-carriage arranged inadvance thereof, formed with a wire-holding cam-lever, a rocking leverconnected at one end to the said carriage, a connection between theopposite end of the said rocking lever and the drive-shaft, and ayielding conductor arranged in advance of the carriage, substantially asshown and described.

11. In a wire-nail-making attachment for "cut-nail machines, areciprocating wire-feed carriage formed with a longitudinal wiregroove,a locking dog orpawl, and apertured guide-lugs formed over the ends ofsaid wiregroove, substantially as and for the purposes described.

12. The combination, with a reciprocating wire-feed carriage operatingon the wire-feed stand, of a bell-crank lever mounted thereon, one armof said lever connected to said carriage, the drive-shaft 0, aneccentric mounted thereon,a pitman mounted on said eccentric,

and an adjustable connection between the end of said pitman and thebell-crank lever, whereby the throw of the wire-carriage can beincreased or decreased, substantially as and, for the purpose described.

13. The combination, with the drive-shaft 0, formed with an eccentric,and the reciprocating wire-feed carriage, of a bell-crank lever pivotedon the feed-standard, the lower arm thereof connected with thefeed-carriage,

a frictional connecting-block pivoted on the l combined yielding guideand pushing-finger outer end of the upper arm, and a pitman held thereinand adapted to operate between connecting said drive-shaft eccentric andthe the fixed die and fixed guide, substantiallyas friction connection,substantially as and for and for the purpose described. 5 5 the purposedescribed. In testimony whereof I affix my signature in 14. Thecombination, with the fixed bedpresence of two Witnesses. socket, astationary cutting-die held therein,

and a fixed wire-guide disposed parallel to GEORGE WV. MCKIM. said dieand formed with a downWardly-pro- Witnesses:

1o jecting finger, of a longitudinally-movable .W. M. LUPTON,

cutting-die, the upper pivotal head, and the G. A. MGKIM.

